Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: Ahmedabad, India In only a few months of operation, Ahmedabad's Janmarg BRT transformed transit in South Asia and became a model for the future of transportation in India and the world.

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: Ahmedabad, India The stations are well-designed, attractive spaces that provide shelter from rain and sun. The buses are boarded at-level, making them much more accessible to the elderly, handicapped and even parents with small children. It serves as a model for the future of transportation in India and the world. City residents have unilaterally embraced the BRT system— as of June 2011 there were 115,000 trips each day on Janmarg, carrying residents to work, to school and elsewhere.

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: Ahmedabad, India The system is projected to save 288,000 metric tons of CO2 each year, in part because it will prevent passengers from switching from bus to motorcycles or private cars and motorcycles in the years to come. The city is also making continued efforts to be a leader in sustainable transport, including incorporating high?quality pedestrian facilities throughout the city as well as bicycle lanes.

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: New York City, United States New York City surpassed the other STA nominees this year to demonstrate that political will, bold leadership and citizen engagement can lead to sweeping transportation reforms.

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: New York City, United States Designated bike lanes near Madison Square Park have made a once dangerous intersection safe for bikers

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: New York City, United States In 2008, the city implemented key parts of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s long-term sustainability vision, PlaNYC The laudable changes made throughout 2008 have reshaped the experience of walking on New York City streets. The city changed 49 acres of road space, traffic lanes and parking spots into bike lanes, pedestrian areas and public plazas and advocated biking and walking as investment-worthy transportation alternatives.

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: New York City, United States Bike lanes and pedestrian zones have increased safety in the Times Square area

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: New York City, United States Streets closed to traffic

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: New York City, United States Pedestrian streets encourage lively street activity

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: London London is the largest city to adopt congestion pricing

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Congestion pricing works by shifting purely discretionary rush hour highway travel to other transportation modes or to off-peak periods, taking advantage of the fact that the majority of rush hour drivers on a typical urban highway are not commuters. Airline tickets and phone rates use congestion pricing Source: Winner: London

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: London Prior to the charge, London drivers spent 50 percent of their time in traffic jams, costing the city between £2–4 million every week. As of 2007 congestion had dropped 21 percent, and approximately 70,000 fewer vehicles entered the extended congestion pricing zone daily, reducing global warming carbon dioxide emissions by 16 percent.

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: London Each year more than £123 million are raised for public transport improvements. Bus ridership has increased 45 percent as people are switching to bus transportation in London because their travel time has decreased due to congestion pricing. Bike use had increased by 43 percent by And London’s emission-based toll incentives provide additional environmental benefits.

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: Winner: Paris Paris created an individualized mass transit system called Vélib (“Freedom Bikes”).

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 People pay a low fee to use the bikes from one of the 1,200 bike parking stations located in the city and they can return the bikes to any station they wish. By the end of 2007, Vélib had more than 1,202 stations and 15,000 bikes in the system. As of November 2007, more than 11 million trips have been made on these bikes. Source: Winner: Paris

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb Paris is revitalizing community life in public spaces - Paris is prioritizing pedestrians by renovating public squares and plazas, widening sidewalks, and adding new landscaping and raised crosswalks - Paris has built more than 314 km of bike lanes, and bicycling has increased 48% during the past 5 years - 3 corridors of the new BRT system also opened in private vehicle traffic is decreased by 20% - CO 2 emissions is reduced by 9% Source:

Prof. R. Shanthini 09 Feb 2013 Source: When everyone drives a car, there will be no space on the road to drive it.